A vessel captain has relinquished his captain’s license after allegations of sexual assault on board the bulker ship LIBERTY GLORY. The master mariner faced complaints from two Merchant Marine Academy cadets that he spiked their drinks before assaulting them on the vessel. The surrendering of his credentials ensures that Capt. John Merrone will no longer be able to sail as the master of a vessel. Criminal charges remain pending against the captain. The vessel is operated by Liberty Maritime.
There have been a number of recent incidents involving vessels. There was a collision between the container ship MSC RITA and the fishing boat TREMONT on October 28, 2022. The cement carrier XING SHUN NO 1 sank on October 31, 2022. There was a collision between the bulk carrier CAPE BRILLIANCE and a fishing boat on October 31, 2022. A fire broke out in the engine room on the sport fishing boat the REAL PAIN II on October 30, 2022. There was a deadly fire on the cargo ship AZOV CONFIDENCE on November 2, 2022. The container ship SUNTUDSAMUT 4 sank off the coast of Thailand on November 3, 2022.
It can be dangerous to work in any industry when safety considerations are not taken seriously. This is especially so when working on a large ship. Safe maritime companies must must have policies and procedures in place to prevent this type of incident. Safe maritime companies must be proactive and take preventative measures. This is what the custom and practice of the industry requires. All reasonable and appropriate efforts to provide a safe environment must be taken.
Our experienced lawyers handle maritime personal injury and wrongful death litigation of all kinds and the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or those who have been seriously injured as a result of an incident on a vessel. The lawyers of Spagnoletti Law Firm have handled maritime lawsuits and sexual abuse lawsuits throughout the country.
The experienced and aggressive vessel accident attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of sexual abuse on a vessel. There are strict and short time limits on making claims related to maritime injuries, so please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or to learn more about your rights.